Clutch mechanism.



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CLUTCH MEGHANISM. .APPLICATION FILED snPT.12.iao5.

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UNITED sTATssf PETER JENNESS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA` CLUTCH MECHANISM.

Specification of Let-ters` Patent. l

Application filed September l2. 1905. Serial No. 273,075.

T o uhom it mag/,conform Bc it known that I, PETER JENNEss, a citizen of the itedStatcs, residing in the city and county of Phila` come and reduce to a minimum, the sudden shoclr which is produced in the ordinary friction clutches when,y the movable clutch member first engages with the rotatable member.

It further consists of other novel features of construction, all as will be hereinafter fully set forth.

Figure l represent-s a plan view of a friction clutch embodying myinvcntion, showing the same in assembled position. Fig. 2 represents a sectional view thereof. Fig. 3 represent-s a sectional elevation of a modified form' of clutch mechanism showing the two members in engagement. Fig. 4 represents a sectional elevation similar to Fig. 3 but showing the clutch members as being disengaged. Fig. 5 represents a sectional elevation of another embodiment of my invention.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the figures.- Referring tothe drawings, 1 designates the driving shaft having frredly mounted thereon a fly wheel 2 by any suitable means such as a nut 3 having engagement with the shaft 1.

4 designates an extension or prolongation of the shaft 1.

5 designates a bearing forming one member of the clutch which may be integral with the fly wheel or secured thereto in any desired manner, the bearing face being preferably cone shaped.

6 designates a sleeve provided with a bushing 7 and loosely mounted upon the extension 4 of the shaft l. The `bushing 7 is preferably made of bronze orother suitable material and has a driving rit in the sleeve 6, it being noticed lthat the bushing extends outwardly beyond the end of said sleeve, the. purpose of which will behereinafter described. The sleeve 6 is squared so as to receive a collar 8. This will prevent the rotation of the collar with respect to said sleeve 6 but will permit its'lon'gitudinal movement on said sleeve.

9 designates a washer or ring loosely mounted on the bushing 7 I n e 10 designates an abutment on the collar 8 between which and the washerS is interposed a buf-Eer spring 11.

12 designates a collar loosely mounted oh the bushing 7 between which and-the washer 9 is the"cage or washer`13 provided with ballbearings. Thgwasher l2v is recessed aant 14 adapting the same to partly cover' the nut3, when the clutch mecham'smis disengaged,

n's thelligth of the clutch mechanism so that 15 designates an annular recess or groove between' which andthe casing ofl the fly wheel 2 is interposed a spring 16 which 'tends to normally retain the .clutch members in engagement. 17 designates the movable member of the friction clutch which may be integral with the collar 8 or suitably secured thereto by any suitable means such as bolts 18 and nuts 19, said clutch member being provided at its end with cone shaped surfaces 20 to which is suitably secured by rivets or equivalent 'devices, any suitable friction material such as leather or the like. The sleeve 6 is provided with an annular groove adapted to retain a clutch collar 22 to which the actuating lever is secured.4

The operation is as followsz-Having the parts in the position seen in Fig. 2, it will be seen that the spring 16 tends normally to retain the clutch members in friotinal engagement, the movement to the right of the movable clutch member 17 being regulated by means ofthe washer` 9 which abuts against the inner end of the collar 8 and thus preventing any further movement in that direction. When it is desired to disengage the clutch, the sleeve 6 is movedforwardly or to the left, said sleeve sliding Within the collar 8 until a 'ratentsaos as, ,1,9o7.' f

flange 23 thereon engages the outer end o f the collar 8 whereupon the clutch-member 17 will be moved .inwardly or to the left. compressed and the tensionof the spring 11 will bereleased. It will be seen that when the sleeve 6 is shifted to unset the clutch the spring .l1 is at first allowed to expand, and the spring 16 compressed until the shoulder 23 engages' with the end of the sleeve 8, and thus limits any further expansion of the spring 11. When the sleeve' is permitted to move rearwardly or to the right, the friction material `21 will engage the -cone bearing of the clutch member 5 but instead of the usual abrupt, engagement the buffer spring 1l interposed between the washer 9 and its abutment 110 on the collar 8 will cause the said bearings to engage with each other, at first very gradually andrthus with a very slight pressure. This pressure depending entirely upon the strength of the spring 11 graduallyl increases until the washer 9 abutsagainst th'e inner end of the sleeve 6 andthe inner end of collar 8, when it will be seen that the full tension of the spring 16 will be employed to retain the clutch me'mbers in engagement with each other. It will thus be seen that when the clutch is being set, thespring 16 is allowed 'to expand and the spring 11 is gradually compressed until the frictionfaces ofthe clutch engage with each other. It

will be seen that by the use of this novel construction The spring 16 will be gradually other very gradually at first, owing to the fact thatthev n spring 16 which tends to always' automatically holdthe clutch members in. ,agement must first overcome the tension of the sl 1g 11 before said clutch members are locked in engagement.

member employed to overcome the initial shock Vof the engagement of the clutch members. In these embodiments 24 designates the driving shaft which has keyed thereto e fly wheelzffem'el `ie previded with e Weeberl 26'and fa nut 27. The outer flange 28'of.t he flywheel is internallybevele'd as seen at 29,tbis bevel inclining outwardly toward the outer edge of the flange l28. 30 'designates the movable clutch member which is centrally recessed as seenat'l and thus-adapted to be 'loosely mounted on the reduced end A3,2 of the driving shaft24. arde or hub of `themovable member 30 is extended or prolonged as seenat 33and has secured v'thereto a clutch Vcollarl34 by any suitablemeans such 33 is an actuating collar-56 "which is normally mainl tained in its outer position at the-right hand end of the rod 33, as seen in Fig. 4, by means of a spring or resilif as a pin 35. I ooselymountedfon the rod or extensionl `i ent member 37 interposed betweensaid actuating collar 3 6 and lthe. hub of the clutch member 30. The hub ofthe member- 30 and lthe actuating clutch collar 36 are suitably faced'o'iifv or v( )therwise adapted` to serve as an abutmentor the ends of the resilient member 37. The

" movable clutch member Bil'providedwithan annu-v l lar flange` or ring 38 suitablybeveled and provided with suitable frietionmaterial 39.

The ,operation `will be'freadily apparent. Having the partsin their initial Lor normal position` as seen in Fig-"14,v the actuating collar, which in lpractice would beconncctedwith a suitable lever,4 is movedjtowards the leftand owing tothe interposition'of the sp1-'ing 37 between /the'iactuating `collar 36 andthe hub o i'theiy i wheel or'y fixed clutch member 25, the Aclutch membei' 30 will;ieldingly, `e11gage'the friction surface of 'the fixe-d clutch member 25.

Whenit'is desired to disengage the clutch, the collai 3 6 "is moved to the right whichwill permit the spring 37 t0 assume its normal positionand the mov- `able clutch membertomove'out of engagement with the fixedclu'tch member. In theembodiment shown innig', '5, as' designates the driving eheftjteving keyed thereon a ffly wheel 39 and provided with aiwasher 40 ingm in hub and a`nut 41. 4'2 desigrites a flange or annular ring ably beveled or inclined. 43 designates apro'lo'ngation 'o f' 4the shaft v38 but vhaving a reduced diameter and having extending therefrom a rod 44', the'diameter of whieh ie 'Suu funnerredueed,

45fdesignates a nut secured'to the Aend of the rod 4 4; 46 designates ball bearings loosely mounted on the said 'rodaild against which one endy of a spring47 abuts..

) 48 designates a movable clutch'member provided I with s liub 49 having an annular Harige 50.

51 designatesa bushing which hasipreerably a ldriv- 49 and entends beyond the inner end of .tiene actuating clutch would preferably be made integral A for the spring 11 than I do for the springl.

i as newanddes'ireto secure Lettersldte'ntz 1s;' 1. In a friction c lntch, a driving menihenndriven mem; g

ber normally held in -'engag"emet therewtliendwise comactuating'clntch whichie mounted on vtheiredu'ced portions arid 44 of the shaft. :This

and has a collar or sleeve 5 3l whichis mounted on the reduced end V43 of the shait, on which is mounted the.

movable clutch member 48. Suitably secured at the In the embodiment shown in Figs. 3 and' 4, 'I have I shown the movable clutch member as being mounted directly-upon the driving shaft and only one resilient V-an'd the clutch collar'is a spring or resilient member 55l Extending outwardly from the clutch is .a sleeve or ring 56 within which the reduced end 44 of the ,shaft yand the ball bearings' 46 and spring 47 are carried.4 The spring 47y is interposed between the ball bearings' 46 and the clutch collar 52.- The outer'end lof the sleeve or collar 56 is provided with an 'annular flange 5 7 tov suitable actuating lever or connection as 60.

The operation is as follows-Having tlie clutch in engagement as seen in. Fig. 5', the clutch collar 52'will be moved to the right which will permit the spring 55 f to be released from its tension and the cone-shapedV flangeGl provided with:` friction material 62 will be permitted tomove out of engagement with'theh inner bevel of the ange 42 which\ i s secured 'to the fixed i clutch member 39. As seen iii'Fig. 5,after'-the movable clutch memberr is partially .released tbe-'washer -f 54, which is fixed tothe sleeve 53, will abut againstthe Y inner end .of the hub 49 andthe movable clutch member `will be moved outwardly in a positive/manner against the tension of thev spring 47 which is mounted on the reduced neck 44 of the shaft 38f.

`My ,novel construction may ,be very cheaply built 'andisvery durable and ehcentin its'action.. e

`It will be apparent that the strength of the spring 16 and the springl 11 must have a certaimproportion in order to obtain the desired result. The springs 11 and 16 areof such proportion that when theiriction faces begin to vengage they contact with each other under. the initial pressure of thespring 1.1.l The pressure of this spring 11 graduallyA increases as the sleeve (6) 'is allowed to recede to the right until thecollar or sliding member, (Sli-.buts against-,Ille washer (9) when, as the sleeve (6). is still allowed to recede, the frctional surfaces (20) and-(21) are forced together with theifull pressure of the spring 16, it being apparentthatthe e spring 16 always ltends to move the sleeve .6to the' right. It is also apparent Ithat the driven member always has 'a certain relation to the driving member owing tothe cone-shaped face of said driving member Which,'as will be seen in Fig.Y 2, Ainclines inwardly. It willfthu's be seen that the driven member l7i'when it i disengages vfrom' the driving member, always moves inwardly or to the left as seenl in Fig. 2 and is dwaal- Ways'ret-ainedwithin said driving members. It will be evident that I may vary the strengtlfrfeither the iis spring 16 or the spring ll'according tol the reqluiref' mentsand that I-preferably employ a shorter'spring 'Itwill be evident that various changes maybe made herein shown described.'

Having thus l" lescribed my invention; what 'Ii pressible ylelding means for holding said members in engagement, and a single endwise cenipressible yielding means coaxial with the shafts of said members for moderating the initial engagement thereof. said yielding means being continuously' opposed to each other and both acting to set the clutch.

2. In a friction clutch, a driving shaft. a clutch member tired thereon. a driven member loosely' mounted ou said shaft and having longitudinal movement thereon. a spring coaxial with the shaft of one member for holding` said members in engagement. a second spring,r coaxial with the shaft of said members and interposed between the driving member and the point ot' application of the clutch lever to moderate the initial shock of such engagement. said springs being disposed in line with each other about the shafts ot said members and being continuously opposed to each other and both acting to set the clutch.

5l. Iii friction clutch. a driving member, a driven member. adapted to be moved in engagement therewith. a sleeve on whith said driven member is mounted a bushing in said slcevefwashers loosely mounted on said bushing. ball bearings between said washers. a spring acting against one of said washers and adapted to hold said driven member in engagement with said driving member and a halter spring engaging' the other of said washers and adapted to niederA ate the initial shock of said engagement.

-l. In a friction clutch. a driving shaft, a fly wheel, rigidly mounted thereon. a cone fa'ce on said tlf: wheel. a slee-:e loosely mounted ou said shaft, a bushing having a driving tit with said sleeve and extending outwardly beyond the end thereof, a driven clutch member non-rotatably mounted with respect to .said sleeve but having longitudinal troiement thereon. a washer loosely mounted on said bashing. and a 'spring interposed between said driven member and said washer adapted to moderate the initial engagement o1 said clutch members and iiicans for normally retaining said clutch members in engagement.

5. In a friction clutch, a drivingr member, a driven member. means for retaining said members in engagement, a lsleeve on which said driven member is mounted, a bushing in said sleeve, a washer mounted on said bushing, a second washer mounted on said bushing, ball bearings between said washers, said tirst washer limiting the engagement of said members and means :for moderating the initial shock of said engagement.

G. in a friction clutch, a drivin gmemher, a driven membei', a sleeve on which the latter is mounted, and on which said member has longitudinal movement. a bushing in said sleeve. a washer mounted thereon and adapted to limit the movement of said driven member in one direction. :i Bange on said sleeve adapted to engzge tht` other end of said driven member to ,limit its longitudinalmovement in the opposite direction. yielding means for normally holding said members in engagement and a. a riir; adapted to moderate the-initial shock of said engagement.

'i'. ln a friction clutch, a driving member having a cone shaped face, a driven member adapted to frictionaliy ^n gage said face, a sleeve on which said driven member has longitudinal movement, a flange on said sleeve adapted to liiuit the inward movement of said sleeve, a bushing in the latter,.a washerl loosely mounted on said bushing. a second washer loosely mounted on said bashing, means engaging said second washer for normally retaining said members in engagement, a recess in said second washer and :1 Dulfer spring interposed betweea'said first washer and said driven member and adapted to moderate the ini 'al engagement ci' said members.

s. In a friction clutch, e. driving shaft, clutch member fixed thereon, a driven member loosely mounted on said shaft and having longitudinal movement thereon, a spring coaxial with the shaft of one member for hol-'Jing said members in engagement, a hiiter spring coaxial with the shafts of said members and interposed betweenthe driving member and the point of application of the clutch lever to moderate the initial shock of such engagement, mid springs being disposed in line with earch other about the shafts of said members. and said springs being disposed between the points of attachment of said members with their shafts fl' ln a friction clutch, a driving member having a single fri tional surface. a driven member having a single-frictional surface. and two sprinfzscoaxial with eachother and enacting with said members', both oi said Springs tending to normally hold said'members in engagement and one spring beingr released when the other is compressed.

10. in a t'rlction clutch, a driving shaft, a clutch men;- ber fixed thereon, a driven member loosely mounted on said shaft, a clutch member mounted on said driven member and having longitudinal movement. on said driven member, and two continuously opposed springs coaxial with the shaft for normally holding said clutch members in engagement.

PETER JENNLSS.

Witnesses II. AS. Famisiixxs, W. F. JACKSox. 

